Youth Emergency Shelter Launches Annual Holiday Wish List

The YES Shelter for Youth and Families (YES) has published their annual Holiday Wish List, and will continue to update it weekly.

Fundraising Administrator Kathleen Wild, who is coordinating the wishlist, and leading a group of volunteers to organize and wrap all of the holiday donations, so YES workers can distribute gifts to clients over the holidays. Photo courtesy of YES Shelter.

Each year YES asks young people and families that are struggling what items they would like to receive for Christmas. They focus on items that would give them joy, independence or help them enjoy the season.

From now until the end of December staff at YES will update the Wish List each Wednesday.

While the wish list is live all year, the Holiday Wish list features different items.

So far this year youth and families have asked for cosmetics, arts and craft supplies, gift cards for local businesses (especially coffee shops, gaming stores, clothing stores, book stores and nail salons)

“The holidays can be a really rough time for young people and families struggling with homelessness,” said Brooke Erickson, Development Lead at YES. “The YES wishlist not only brightens up the holiday season, but also helps young people and parents feel cared for by their community. It's a chance for Peterborough to show our neighbours that we're here for them, provide some much-needed essentials, and spread the joy of the season.”

YES cannot currently accept any used clothing or items at the shelter. Used clothing, housewares and furniture should be dropped off at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore.

The YES Shelter is open 24/7, 365 days a year. They provide emergency shelter to youth and families in crisis. Each year YES serves roughly 250 new clients , in addition to many who have stayed at the shelter before.

The shelter also offers long term transitional housing, alternative classrooms for youth, a food and clothing cupboard and outreach staff to help youth and families access the resources they need.

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